To commemorate World Fair Trade Day 2007, Ashoka recognizes the role of Ashoka Fellows who are including producers, farmers, and entire communities in a just, sustainable and competitive global marketplace.

The Ashoka Fellows are representative of social entrepreneurs who are creating new trade patterns, labor mechanisms and business models that enable disenfranchised people around the world to fairly participate in the international economy. Ashoka takes this opportunity to raise awareness of their ground-breaking approaches and relentless commitment to creating a more just and prosperous world for all.

Paul Rice, USA
TransFair USA
Paul is addressing the negative effects of globalization on millions of family farmers worldwide by helping them earn a competitive price for their high-quality products. By establishing the Fair Trade Certified™ label, Paul has created tremendous market demand for Fair Trade products and aligned the interests of producers, consumers and businesses. TransFair’s product certification has generated nearly $85 million in income to farmers around the world. Today, consumers can make a difference by purchasing Fair Trade Certified products.
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Catalina Cock, Colombia
Corporación Oro Verde
Catalina created Corporación Oro Verde to promote green gold mining techniques and fair pricing, allowing impoverished rainforest communities to mine gold themselves in a small-scale, environmentally-friendly way. Rather than renting their land to polluting extraction corporations, green miners commit to restoring the landscape, These communities are ending their dependence on mining, improving their food security and empowering themselves to manage and protect their land. She is currently living in Amsterdam, Holland, advocating opening the European market to Oro Verde.
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Agung Alit, Indonesia
Mitra Bali
Alit believes that markets are the most effective way to transform the lives of exploited crafts producers in rural villages. He has established a fair trade system for craftspeople in Bali, developing their business acumen while creating social and economic sustainability in their communities. By focusing on the entire economic chain — from product design to quality control, business organization and marketing — Alit bridges the economic gap for small producers and allows them to become independent and competitive.
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Roland Martins, India
GOADESC
Roland recognized that fair trade should go beyond physical goods to encompass the service sector, especially the tourism industry of his native Goa. He is organizing small service providers into professional associations to ensure that tourism revenues filter back into local economies. Roland has built a tourism resource center for this united group, where members learn about the industry, build access to capital, upgrade their business skills and create marketing vehicles to maintain customer bases and capture new ones. Roland envisions his organization expanding worldwide, helping all small service providers to exchange expertise, experiences and solutions.
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Nelsa Nespolo, Brazil
Justo Trama
A former factory employee, Nelsa goes beyond assuring “fair trade” for bottom-tier producers by linking workers at all stages of production. Her “fair chain” model involves all participants at every step in the clothing production chain — from cotton farming to final sales — in a series of enterprises that collectively own the company. Nelsa’s Justo Trama clothing company both raises wages and gives decision-making power to workers. Justo Trama provides a chance for individuals to work themselves out of poverty, and gives consumers low-price, fashionable products they desire.
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Ron Layton, Global Fellow
LightYears IP
Ron is using intellectual property as an economic strategy to empower the world’s poor. Through LightYears, farmers and producers can secure ownership of the geographic “brand” that distinguishes their products through licensing and trademarking. Ownership opens up a range of commercial options: it eliminates middlemen, increases domestic processing and allows for control over exclusive rights. The result is a higher share of income and a larger return on investment. By aligning producers, intellectual property experts and policymakers, Ron is shaping this new field for existing people, professions and institutions.
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